Headlight-dimming apparatus



July 13,1926. 1,592,289

- H. H. WITZEL HEADLIGHT DIMMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1926 INVENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEY tilt Patented July 13, 1926 UNITED STATES HENRY H. WITZEL, OF MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA.

HEADLIGHT-DIMMING APPARATUS.

Application filed February This invention relates to dirigible headlights or those which are adjustable or tiltable for the purpose of removing lare and has for its object the provision o' a novel arrangement whereby the headlamps themselves are tiltable by means operable from the dash so as to direct their rays downwardly upon the roadway instead of permitting the light to glare into the eyes of and cause temporary blinding of drivers of approaching cars. 1

An important object of the invention is to provide an opaque shield device mounted in advance of the lens of the headlamp and movable with respect to the headlamp under the influence of control means whereby to direct the rays of light downwardly to a still greater extent than is possible without the employment of these features.

Another obJect 1s to provide a novel mounting for the lamp and connecting means so that those at opposite sides of the vehicle will move in unison upon actuation of whatever control device is provided.

An additional object is to provide a structure of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to install and use, positive in action, efiicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art. I

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illus: trated' in the ac'companyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automobile showing a pair of headlamps thereon constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the lamps, parts being broken away and in section and Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof on a somewhat larger scale.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates the front portion of an automobile, B represents the front fenders thereof and C the brace rod which connects the tenders for the purpose or" steadying them and preventing looseness and rattling. lhe letter D designates a portion of the forward ends of the frame bars of the chassis. All these parts are otcourse old and well lmown but they are illustratedinas;

in advance of the car.

13, 1926. Serial No. 88,078.

much as the Y operate as supporting means for the head amps E which may be of any ordinary or preferred type and of course embodying .and enclosing the usual reflectors, sockets, bulbs and thelike and equipped with any suitable control means, not shown.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a mounting for each headlamp, this mounting consisting of a substantially semicircular upright bracket member 1(),*two being shown in the present instance, and both being mounted bysuitable means upon the brace rods C and located at the point usually occupied by the headlamps. Secured to the bight portion of the bracket 10 is one leaf 11 of a hinge structure which includes a longer leaf 12 secured to the underside of the headlamp, the purpose being that the headlamp will be capable of tilting in a vertical plane so that the rays of lights emitted may be permitted to pass out in a normal or straight-ahead direction or be deflected downwardly onto the roadway immediately I Obviously, the structure for both headlamps is the same and any suitable means may be connected whereby they will operate in unison. At least one, or possibly both, of the leaf members 12 should be provided with a depending extending portion 13.

Connected with the rim F of each headlamp in any suitable or desirable manner are forwardly extending ears or lug members 14 of any specific shape or type upon which are pivoted, at 15 the sides of a hood 16 which is preferably partially cylindrical in shape and constructed of any suitable material, preferably of an opaque nature. Connected with the upper ends of the arms of each bracket member 10 are forwardly extending links 17 which are, in turn, pivotally connected with the opposite sides of the shield or hood 16 at points below the pivot 15.

Under ordinary circumstances, use is made oia spring 18 connected with one or both of the extensions 13 of the hinge leaves 12 for the purpose of maintaining the headlam s in a straightahead position so that the ight rays will be emitted therefrom in a horizontal direction. When approaching another car, it is intended that the operator pull upon a cable 19 or other device which may be connected with one or both otthe leaf extensions 13 so that the hinge member will swing upon its spindle and cause the headlamp E to be tilted forwardly and.

downwardly as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 2, At the same time, it is of course clear that owing to the pivoting of the hoods or shields at the point 15 and the provision of the links 17 connnected with these hoods or shields and with the arms of the bracket members 10 the hoods or shields will be swung forwardly and downwardly to a greater extent than the headlamps themselves, this position being likewise indicated by dot and dash lines in Figure 2. Quite clearly, when this position is reached, the rays of light issuing from the headlamps will be directed downwardly onto the roadway comparatively close to the vehicle instead of blinding or glaring into the eyes of the driver of an approaching vehicle. Logically, the device will comply with the regulations in existence in many communities where bright and dazzling headlights are prohibited. It is also to be noted that the headlamps are always in focus, there being no derangement whatever of the mechanism, the only function of the structural features of the invention being to tilt the lamp and the guards or shields downwardly. It is really believed that the constructon, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. in a vehicle, a headlamp structure ill!- cluding a pair of rigid supporting brackets, a leaf hinge member within each bracket ,lamp within the confines of each bracket secured to the other leaf of the hinge, means connected with the headlamps for tilting the same upon said hinges, said means being operable from the dash of the vehicle, and spring means normally maintaining the lamps in straightahead or normal position.

3. In a vehicle, a headlamp structure including a pair of rigid supporting brackets,

a leaf hinge member within each bracket.

having one leaf secured thereto, a headlamp within the confines of each bracket secured to the other leaf of the hinge, means connected with the headlamps for-tilting the same upon said hinges, supporting elements carried by each lamp, a shield or guard located in advance of each lamp and pivoted upon said supporting elements, and link members connected with said brackets and with said shield or guard. v

4. In a dirigible headlamp monntin fixed brackets, headlamps hinged at their lower portions within said brackets, means for moving the lamps simultaneously, means normally operating to maintain the lamps in straight ahead position, a shield pivoted in advance of each lamp and movable therewith, and an operative connection between the shield and the bracket for moving the shield additionally when the headlamp is tilt/ed.

, In testimony whereof ll aifix my signature.

H. WllZElL, 

